By Emily Williams Just as her platform reads, there is “More Than Meets the Eye” when it comes to 2019 Miss Tennessee Valley Outstanding Teen Marissa Luna. A bit of a newcomer to the pageant world, 14-year old Mountain Brook resident Luna and her mother, Misty Chitwood, had no idea that she would be earning a crown when she took the stage at the Miss Tennessee Valley … [Read more...]
Investing in the Indaba: 2018 ZooGala Pitch Zoo as Community Investment
By Emily Williams In southern Africa, a gathering or meeting often is called an indaba. Originally a term for a political conference between tribes, some of the largest indabas in southern Africa today range from conferences for tax professionals to cultural and tourism gatherings. Throughout its existence, the Birmingham Zoo has been a place for children young and old to … [Read more...]
Jam for a Cure: Annual Concert Honors Memory of Mountain Brook Student and LJCC Member Sam Lapidus
By Emily Williams Though it has been nearly a decade since cancer took the life of Sam Lapidus at the age of 14, his memory lives on through the service work of others. In addition to a yearly run, his name is immortalized through the annual Jam for Sam event, which will take place Aug. 26 at Red Hills Brewery in Homewood. The event is organized by the Birmingham chapter of … [Read more...]
‘My heart just melted’: Savage’s Bakery celebrates 13-year-old girl with autism’s first birthday party
By Ingrid SchnaderAlthough the team at Savage’s Bakery is known for creating birthday cakes for people all over the area, they aren’t usually the people who throw the birthday parties. However, when Elizabeth Scott — who owns the bakery with her father — received a call from Kim Kirkpatrick, she said her heart melted.“I was helping her on the phone, and she … [Read more...]
Messy Houseguest Catalyst for Home Remodel: Vestavia Hills Couple Update Their ’60s Home with Big Open Spaces
By Ingrid SchnaderA curious, enthusiastic dog was the catalyst for a long-delayed remodeling of a 1960s house in Vestavia Hills. Ron and Lu Ann Smith said they had wanted to remodel their house ever since they moved in 20 years ago, but converting the closed-in house to an open concept design would be a big project, and so the job never made it to the top of the to-do … [Read more...]